2026 Ohio State wide receiver commit Chris Henry Jr. makes early On3 Watch List
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has developed a good problem on the recruiting trail that has carried over onto its roster and even past that into the NFL.
The Buckeyes land, develop and send out elite wide receivers.
Under offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach Brian Hartline the standard for the position has been the highest in program history. That standard rose with the 2023 and 2024 classes.
And for the 2026 cycle, Chris Henry Jr. is following suit.
The four-star Cincinnati (Ohio) Withrow star was named as one of the top 100 2026 prospects to watch by On3. The list, compiled by On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power, had 100 prospects rated 90-91.
Henry was a 91 and one of the first names on the list.
“Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr. has been a name on the national radar for some time,” Power said in his breakdown. “The 6-foot-4.5, 185-pounder has a rare combination of size and movement skills. Henry already tests as a strong athlete and has the ability to drop his weight and change directions. He projects as a strong route-runner at his size.”
Henry Jr. has been one of the most closely watched underclassmen in the country ever since he earned his Ohio State going into his freshman year. He previously played at West Claremont in Cincinnati, but transferred to Withrow and now plays alongside 2025 four-star wideout Quintin Simmons.
The sophomore wide receiver made his Withrow debut on Aug. 18 in a 42-0 win over rival Walnut Hills. He totaled 80 all-purpose yards and scored one touchdown. Henry has put in many long hours already in developing his skill set. He was one of the wide receivers on hand this summer for quarterbacks at the Elite 11 in Los Angeles. Henry and Ohio State quarterback commit Air Noland quickly established a connection on the field that could be fun to watch a few years from now.
Ohio State earned his commitment, perhaps a bit unexpectedly, as Henry left campus following the Buckeyes’ SummerFest event.
“[Ohio State] is just hard to turn down for me,” he said. “It’s perfect for me.”
Chris Henry Jr. is continuing the standard set before him as an Ohio State wide receiver. He ended his recruitment before it really began. Now when it comes the time for formal rankings, he’ll certainly be high on the list.
